Imagine you’re at work, sitting at your desk when your cell phone rings. The caller ID displays your daughter’s name. You answer the phone…
“Hello, sweetheart, how are you doing?” you ask.
“Help me, dad!! I’ve been kidnapped! They’re going to hurt me!” she pleads.
The phone is then forcefully taken from her, and a man’s voice comes on.
“I’ve taken your daughter. If you want to see her alive again, you need to pay me ten thousand dollars,” he demands.
This scenario is every parent’s worst nightmare. But what if it was all a ruse? What if you were being scammed by someone using AI to mimic your daughter’s voice, possibly even the kidnapper’s? Thanks to deepfake technology, not only can voices be replicated, but faces can also be convincingly simulated. What’s more, this technology is not just possible, but also cheap and sometimes free.
This type of scam has become increasingly common and accessible, to such an extent that the FTC has issued warnings on their site to educate the public. A simple Google search will reveal that this scam is gaining significant media attention, with reports from victims who have lost thousands of dollars to the scammers.
Protect Yourself
You may be wondering how you can protect yourself and your loved ones from such a scam. Here’s how:
- First, understand that this is social engineering at its most malevolent. Scammers use urgency to manipulate you. To combat this, pause. Breathe. Recall this article. Ask yourself, is this a scam? Don’t trust the caller ID or the voice on the other end of the line.
- Establish a unique password with your children, known only to you and them. Each parent should have a different password. This can also prevent someone from convincing your child that they were sent by you in an emergency. Without the pre-established password, your child should not trust strangers. Practice this regularly.
- If you receive a distressing call, hang up and call back on your loved one’s phone directly. While caller ID can be easily spoofed, if you call them back directly, it will go straight to their actual phone.
- If you can’t reach them via phone, try their workplace, friends, or school. Be aware that the scammer might call you back and attempt further deception. Unfortunately, there’s no foolproof way to block them from doing so.
- If you can’t establish contact with your loved ones, call the police. They can assist you in locating them. Never pay a ransom to these scammers. Remember, every person who falls for this scam encourages them to continue victimizing others.
In conclusion, there are malicious individuals out there who will use technology to deceive you. It’s unfortunate, but with today’s technology, we can’t always trust our senses. However, by following some basic strategies, you can protect yourself and your loved ones from falling victim to these horrific scams.
Do you have other suggestions? Please comment below and share your ideas!
References:
https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/29/us/ai-scam-calls-kidnapping-cec/index.html
https://www.npr.org/2023/03/22/1165448073/voice-clones-ai-scams-ftc
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